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How could she do this to him!

And in front of everyone! Of her father! The King!

It was outrageous! Humiliating! It was -

It was a temporary condition. He was sure about that. Once the elf got the love potion, he would dust Marianne with it and she would fall desperately in love with him and things would go back to where they belong. She would stop this nonsense about treaty with those filthy beasts and he would finally get his well deserved army.

He knew that what he was doing wasn't proper for a gentleman like him, but as they say, everything is fair in love and war and this was pretty much about both.

He will get Marianne back and he will be King!

They were chilling on their spot up in the Goblin Castle's roof, enjoying each other's company and learning about the other, when the message arrived.

A small elf is in the Dark Forest.

Bog looked at Marianne, partly expecting her to know what this was all about and partly worried about them being busted so soon. They had decided to keep their relationship secret, at least on her part of the lands, and wait for the right moment to tell her father about it. Neither felt really comfortable yet with the shift and the implications of their new bond, both very aware of the complications that a fairy-goblin union would mean for their people.

Anyways, Bog and Marianne flew down fast and found his subjects in a state of distress, running around and panicking about the intrusion. After a few barking orders they set into a frenzy search for the elf that ventured into the Dark Forest.

But when a scream was heard all around the castle Marianne knew that they didn't have to search no more. Bog knew where the elf was going and Marianne knew who the elf was. The only problem was finding out what he was doing so far from home.

They found Sunny in the dungeons, pale like he had seen a ghost and looking into what Marianne deduced was the Sugar Plum Fairy's prison.

He was so shocked when he turned to face the princess that he barely registered the Goblin King at her side until Sugar Plum screamed at him to set her free for goddam's sake! But before any of them could say anything else, the elf fainted and Marianne looked at Bog with a worried expression on her face.

"Is he trustworthy?" the king asked. Marianne nodded with a sigh. So much for keeping it a secret.

Bog picked up the elf as Marianne carried his staff for him. As they walked upstairs, the couple pondered what to do next. It was obvious that Sunny had to be questioned and punished as a trespasser, and there was little Marianne could do to help her dear friend. Also, when they found a Primrose petal on Sunny's bag, they knew that a serious conversation was in order.

"I came to ask the Sugar Plum Fairy to make a Love Potion," Sunny admitted without much fight, looking down at the leaf covers they had put over him. He was seating on the bed he woke up in, definitely still in the goblin fortress. Marianne was there, so he calmed down enough to be asked questions.

"Why?" the fairy asked her friend, a little frown on her face. "You know how dangerous they are, Sunny. And why would you risk your life to get one?"

"Because… because..." the elf closed his eyes, a tear rolling down his cheek. Marianne wanted to extend a hand to reassure him, but Bog stopped her and shook his head.

"Are you aware that you trespassed my territory without permission?" he asked in the most authoritative voice he had, looking at the elf with ice in his expression.

"I am…"

"Are you aware that it is prohibited magic the one to get a love potion?"

"Uh-huh," Sunny nodded as he sniffed, still too afraid to look up from his hands. "I realize now how stupid of me it was to even try. I shouldn't have listened to that stupid of Roland -"

"What did you just say?" Marianne blinked, not believing her pointy ears.

"Uh… Ro-Roland encouraged me to get the love potion," the fairy looked at the king, the pieces making sense in her head. By the slight nod he gave her, he seemed to understand, too. "He wouldn't stop crying! He said that he was very hurt by your dismissal and -"

"He was lying, Sunny."

"What?" he finally looked up and found his friend standing up with her hand in a fist.

"I can't believe he had done this! I can't believe he had the nerve to use you for his -"

"Marianne…" Bog looked at her, a warning shine in his blue.

"But-!"

"Breathe," he patted her abandoned seat without breaking eye contact with her. Marianne grumbled something about ripping certain wings off, but sat down anyways.

Sunny blinked slowly as the situation finally got to him. It was like something clicked in his mind, when it was obvious that finding her here in the friendly company of the Bog King was hilariously impossible.

"Marianne?" Sunny's voice trembled a bit. "What's going on…?"

The fairy looked at him, frowning and with her lips pressed against each other in a angry expression, before she finally relaxed and took the King's hand in hers. Sunny couldn't take his eyes away from the contact.

"Listen carefully, Sunny. There's much I need to tell you but you can't tell a soul about it, not even my sister," she made a face and added: "Specially not my sister."

The elf nodded hastily, his eyes still on their joined hands.

In the next hour or so, any thought of Love Potions and the Sugar Plum Fairy were pushed to the background of his mind as his friend shared with him a fantastic tale about Roland, cheating, sword lessons and the new relationship with the goblin.